Automatic sprinkler system.



m N m a w M u m J I wmwn 9 M u v m JIIIIIIIII/IZIIIIIIIIIII? V 2 w W e m P W A. M. GRANGER. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 28, 190vv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALMON M. GRANGER, 0F MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW. YORK AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Application filed September 28, 1907. Serial No. 395,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AmuoN M. GRANGER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Medford, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Sprinkler Systems, of which the following descriptiorn-in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like letters on the drawing 'representing like parts.

This invention relates to automatic sprinkler systems employed for fire protection purposes, and more particularly to the so-called dry pipe ty'pe wherein under normal conditions the main water supply or distribution pipes are empty, the water under pressure being held back by air pressure acting upon expensive and more or less cumbersome differential valves until the air pressure is reduced by the opening of one or more sprinkler heads in the distribution pipe. Such systems are objectionable be cause of the expense of installation, and also, particularly in marine work, because of the fact that it is impossible to drain the system without removing the individual sprinkler heads from the distribution pipes.

My present invention overcomes these objections by greatly reducing the cost of in; stallation and simplifying the construction, and while not restricted to such use it is peculiarly adapted for use on steamboats and other marine structures by reason of the drainable features embodied therein, as'will be apparent hereinafter.

Broadly considered my invention comprises a distribution pipe provided with the requisite number of sprinkler mechanisms or heads, as usually designated, means connected with said pipe to supply the same with water under pressure, and means acting normally to maintain the distribution pipe filled with air at higher pressure and prevent the entrance of water to such pipe, said latter means including aservice inlet for air of less area than the outlet of a sprinkler head.

My invention also comprehends the use of pendent drainable whereby the danger to the s stem from (prrosion and freezing is whol y obviated.

In carrying outmy invention the water,

sprinkler heads,

distribution pipe is divided into as many sections as may be necessary, each being connected with a supply of water under pressure, and each section having a check-valve of simple and eilicient construction to admit the water to the distribution pipe when a sprinkler head is opened.

The check-valves are normally held closed by air pressure in the distribution pipe, the air pressure being greater than the water pressure, and the apparatus is so constructed and arranged that after the air pressure in the system is established the air under pressure is constantly maintained in the distribution pipe of each section by a service inlet of less area than that of a sprinkler outlet, whereby when a sprinkler head is opened the reduction in the air pressure is practically instantaneous, to at once effect the opening of the water inlet valve.

A suitable automatic alarm is provided to indicate the admission of water to the distribution pipe of a section, the entrance of the water thereto operating the alarm.

Compressed air is provided by means of any suitable form of automatically cont plled air pump, in itself forming no part of my invention, compensating for any leakage in the piping and by means of a storage chamber or tank maintaining at all times a substantially constant pressure inv the system.

i If one or more of the sprinkler heads is opened, as by fire in the vicinity, the air pressure in the system is instantly reduced to below that of the water, the check-valve or valves at once opening automatically and admitting the water to the system. I have also provided means to prevent waterhammer in the water-supply, as will be explained hereinafter, and I consider this an important feature of my invention.

Herein I have shown my invention cmbodied in a d 'ainable system, using in connection therewith pendant drainable sprinkler heads such as shown in another application Serial No. 390326,.filed by me the twenty-seventh day of August, 1907,

such sprinkler heads depending .from the' distribution pipe and by their construction permitting rea y drainage 0tv the system. While for many purposes, particularlyin steamboat installations, I prefer a drainable system with pendant sprinkler heads of the character referred to it will be manifest from the following specification that certain valuable features ,of my invention are in no wiserestricted thereto.

Up to the present time no installation of pendent drainable automatic sprinklers has been made because I believe I am the first to devise such'apparatus, forming the subject-matter of my other application referred to.

The largest equipment of sprinklers yet introduced on a steamboat is largely nonautomatic in operation, reliance being placed upon thermostats at the side of each sprinkler to announce an adjacent fire on an annunciator in the engine room. When such announcement is made the engineer is ex-- pected to open the water inlet valve for the section or sections, where the sprinklers should be made operative, reducing the action of the system to manual operation.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 isa diagrammatic view in elevation of an automatic sprinkler system embodying my present invention, the piping being broken out at intervals to save space, and with typical forms of water and air pumps illustrated; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail of a drainable sprinklcr fitting and connected pendant sprinkler head; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of thecheckvalve introduced between the main water for drainage, the pipe being prbvided at the requisite intervals with sprinkler mechanisms or heads I) of suitable construction.-

Herein I have shown pendent sprinkler heads, of a drainable type such as forms the subject-matter of my pending application before referred to, the part I of the sprinkler head, Fig. 2, containing the usual outlet valve being connected with the bottom opening of a fitting 2 having lateral openings 3 into which are screwed the ends of; the distribution pipe (I. that the sprinkler head depends from the fitting'with the outlet valve of the sprinkler head adjacent the lower level or bottom line of the distribution pipe, thereby providing for automatic drainage of the sprinkler head when the water is drained from The construction is such the distribution pipe. By using pendent drainable sprinkler heads I obviate the danger of corrosion or freezing at the heads after water has been admitted to the system. It will be understood that the distribution pipe d, 03 may be of any suitable length and arrangement, according to circumstances.

Referring to Fig. l I have shown at W a pump of any suitable construction, having its inlet at w and its outlet is connected by a suitable pipe to with arelatively large tank or chamber VVfi'the pipe to having a valve c to shut off the pump from said chamber when desired. The chamber is herein shown as provided with a transverse diaphragm or partition to, Fig. 1, which extends to the water level, as indicated, the inlet for the chamber being at one side of the partition, while from the opposite side leads a water outlet pipe 10?, connected with the distribution pipe of each section, as will be described. A Valve 1: in the pipe 20 is an ranged to manually cut off the chamber from the sections, when desired, said valve under normal conditions being open. A check-valve C of any suitable character is located in the pipe 10, opened automatically by water pressure to permit the passage of water to the various distributing sections, and normally such check-valve will be maintained closed by air pressure, as will be explained. The chamber VV contains air above the water, forming an effective cushion, the partition w causing the incoming water to be deflected before it can pass out through the outlet pipe 20 the construction serving to effectually prevent water-hammer in the piping of the sprinkler system.

At the right, Fig. 1, I have shown at I an air pump or compressor of suitable form, having its outlet 7) connectedavith an air storage reservoir 1 with a mi'inually 'o1 ier ated valve 0 and a cheek-valve C, the valve 11 being open under normal conditions so that the check-valveautomatically admits air to the reservoir I ,but' prevents return thereof to the pump.

In my present"invention if the water pressure due to' pump V he, say sixty pounds, then the air pressure in the reservoir l will he maintained at a higher pressure, for inslunrt about eighty pounds, and the storage reservoir may have a capacity of about forty gallons to about two hundred gallons for the chamber \V".

It will be understood that in a system of this character the water and air pumps will be automatically controlled in any usual way, forming no part of my invention so that the requisite air and. water pressures will be maintained, the storage reservoir preventing variations in the'air pressure in the sprinkler system.

The water-supply pipe w is upturned at v/ and l have shown it terminating in a T-coupling w, to the opposite ends of which are connected the main check-valves interposed between the means for supplying Water and the distribution pipes of the several sections chamber 8 being One of the main check-valves is shown in section on an enlarged scale in F 3, it comprising a casing 5 having opposite ports (5, 6 provided with annular flanges 7, a valve bolted to the open top of the casing.

An annular valve-seat 9 is formed in the bottom of the chamber, for the check-valve 10, slidably connected by a housing 11 with the upper end of a depending, rotatable stem 12 guided by a spider 13 below the check-valve and by a suitable gland 14- at the bottom of the casing 5.

The lower end oit'the stem outside the gland is screw-threaded at 15 to cooperate with a threaded bearing 16 formed in a depending extension of the gland, the stem having an attached hand-wheel 17.

L By turning down the stem the check-valve 10 1S firmly seated, as shown in Fig. 3, and

by turning up the stem the head 12 thereon is raised from the valve, releasing it from control of the stem, While the extreme upward movement of the stem brings its head against the top of the housing 11 to lift the valve from its seat, when it is desired to blow out the valve casing, for cleansing, etc.

Referring to Fig. 1 I have shown one of the checlovalve devices as attached to each end of the T-coupling w, by means of the the supply pipe w lVhen the flanges 7, and to the outer end of each of the casings 5 I have bolted another similar casing 5", showing a set of four main checkvalves. It will be seen that the end casings are closed at their outer sides, but it will -be manifest that by assembling the casings 5 UV their end flanges 7 a greater number may be connected, with one of the casings 5* at each end of a set. The water passes from to the coupling "it and thencein each direction to the casings ot' the several valve devices, somewhat in the manner of a header, as will be obvious. A connecting pipe to leads from the valve-chamber 8 of each of the cl'icclc-valvcs to one of the sections of distribution pipes, and heroin I have shown only one section connected, it being understood that each of the other sections will be connected in a similar manner. stem 12 of any check-valve is turned up the valve 10 thereof will be free to open or shut as the pressure below or above it is greater. so that at such time the valve is automatic in its operation. An air 0 supply pipe p leads from the storage rcsshown, the by-pass having an area less than the area of the outlet of a SDlXllIlCl' head, say about one-twcntieth (l/QOth) of the area of such outlet.

I prefer to provide the bypass with a valve '0 so that when desired I may completely shut the bypass, as by closing both valves 11* and a the air supply is completely shut ofl from the particular section with which it is connected.

The valve u may be termed the air-charging valve, while the by-pass with its rcstrictcd area constitutes a service inlet for the air, as will be apparent hereinafter.

I intcrpose a common check-valve C between the by-pass and the connecting pipe 10", to close automatically when water is admitted to the distril'iuting section, to prevent the passage of water to the air-supply pipcq), whenever from any cause the airpressure becomes reduced below the waterpressure.

Supposing that the water and air pumps have been put in operation to obtain pressures of say sixty pounds in the chamber V, and eighty pounds in the storage reservoir P, the valve 02 being closed, and also the valves 4), e, the several check valve spindles 12 are turned down by means of the hand wheels 17 to firmly seat the main check valves 10, after which the valves o, 'v are opened, admitting air under pressure to the various sections connected by the pipe p with the reservoir I in order to establish in the distribution pipes the air pressure, say eighty pounds to the square inch. The aircharging valve e in each of said pipes p is then closed, leaving the communication between each section and the storage reservoir through the restricted or service inlet afforded by the by-pass 79 The spindles 12 are now turned up to release the checkvalves 10 but the latter will remain seated by reason of the air pressure of eighty pounds previously established after which the valve c in the water outlet pipe to is opened, admitting the water under pressure of say sixty pounds to the several casings 5 underneath the check valves 10. The latter, however, will be retained seated against the water pressure by the greater air pressure on the upper sides of the valves, and the system is in condition for use. The air pressure in the several sections of distribution pipes and connecting pipes w is maintained by or through the service inlet provided by the several by-passcs ,1), any leakage in the piping being compensated for by the constant supply of air thereby rendered available. It now one or more sprinklerheads be opened by fire in the vicinity thereof, the stored up air in that )articular section is instantly released, and the air pres sure reduced below that of the water, so that the corresponding main check-valve 10 is instantly opened by the pressure of water valve 10 is immediate, the distribution pipe.

of that section being at once filled with the water under pressure, so that the operation of the system is entirely automatic.

I prefer to provide an automatic alarm to indicate the particular section which has been brought into operation, and in Fig. 4, I have shown an enlarged detail of a convenient form of alarm, the same comprising a metallic sphere 20 communicating at its upper end with the connecting pipe in by a small pipe spirally coiled at 21 to suspend the sphere and also to admit water to it. a similar spirally coiled pipe 22 connecting the bottom of the sphere with the pipe to. The elasticity of the coils 21, 22 normally retains thesphere in the position shown in Fig. 4, but when the pipe to isfillcd with water, the sphere is also filled, and the increased weight causes it to descend, bringing a contact 23 attached to the sphere into eugagement with a fixed contact 2% in circuit with a bell or other indicator I by means of a wire 25, the circuit being completed by wire 26. I

In Fi 1. T. have shown one of the alarm devices, it being understood that in practice each of the connecting pipes 11' will be so provided, and it will also be manifest that several indicators or alarms I may be audible or visual as desired, and located in any convenient place.

After a section of the system has been automatically operated, as described. and the tire put out. the check valve '10 of that particular section is closed by turning down its spindle '12, this cutting out. of a section from the means forsupplying the water in no way interfering with any of the other sections, and the air scrvicc inlct -of the opened section is shut-ott' by the valve '1), so that the sectionis shut-off from both the air and, the water supply. A drip valve '2)", Fig. 1, in the lower end of the connecting pipcyw is then opened to effect the drainage of the water from the distribution pipes (l, (1 down through the pipe we, and out through the valve u, and if desired air may be thereafter admitted from the reservoir 1 to blow out any remaining moisture by opening the main charging valve 11 before the open sprinkler heads are replaced or closed.

If the distribution pipe terminates in a dead end, as at the right hand end of the distribution .pipe d, Fig. 1, the endmost sprinkler head I) is provided with a drainage cock 30 through which such part of the distribution pipe can be drained of any remaining water and blown out by the'air;

By using pendent, drainable sprinkler heads, such as described in my pending application, one form of which is shown herein in Fig. 2, the collection of water in the piping after the operation ofa section of the system is prevented, thereby obviating corrosion at. the sprinkler heads or any danger from frost.

I may if desired remove drainage water through a drainage valve 11 at the bottom of the pipe 10 by shutting down the checkvalves 10 of such sections as are not-to be drainech-closing the valve 01 and opening the drainage valve n it being understood that if such mode of drainage is adopted the valves i will not. be opened. In this latter mode of drainage, the water remaining in the distribution pipes will travel down through the casings 5 in which the valves 10 are open, it being remembered that opening of the elves 10 can be etfected by turning up their spindles 12 to the full'extent of their movement, and an opportunity is thereby afforded to clean out the main check\"alve casings and valve seats. After asection has been operated and has been drained, the open sprinkler heads are replaced, the checkalve 10 of that section is shut down manually and these'ction charged with air under pressure by meansof the charging valve e and after the pressure has been established the check-valve 10 is opened, as'has been described, the air charging valve '2) closed, and the air pressure maintained in the section by means of the service inlet through the by-pass. The check-valve C prevents any accidental entrance of air under pressure from the system to the chamber W*, and in a similar manner the chcckw'alve (i prevents entrance of water to the air piping or air reservoir. The main check valve 10 for each section serves as a controller to regulate the passage of 'ater to the distribution piping of that section, such controller being governed wholly by'the, air pressure in the section after the check valve has been released from the control of its spindle 12.

So fa as concerns the mode of connecting the sections with the air storage reservoir, by means'of the main charging valve and the air service inlet, it is immaterial whether the system be provided wth pendent drain-.

able sprinklers or iot, as this part of my invention is applicable to any dry pipe system irrespective of the position or particular construct on of the sprlnkler heads. So too,

the arrangement of the main check-valves is adapted to dry pipe systems in general whether drainable or not, and the same is true of the device for preventing water hammer.

Heretofore dry )ipe systems have depended upon periot lieal supplies 0 air to the piping mains to act upon ditl'erential air alves, or small diaphragms actuating leverage mechanisms, to open or release the main water supply check-valve when the stored air in piping system had been reduced to the tripping point of the differential valve or its equivalent diaphragm.

My novel system herein explained is more simple, of less expense and more reliable both in its automatic maintenance of desired normal conditions and in its simplified and certain automatic admission of water sup ply; freed as it from all care of diti'erential valve apparatus and diaphragms operat ing val e mechanisms, and from the care of inantomatic air and water supplying apparatus.

My invention is not restricted to any par ticular form of pump or apparatus for gen erating and maintaining the desired water and air pressures, as will be manifest from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, and changes may be made in various details of construction aml arrangement by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided with sprinklerheads, means connected with said pipe to supply the same with water under pressure, a connection to said distribution pipe for charging the'same with air under pressure, a valve in said connection, and a bypass around said valve of less area than the outlet of a sprinkler-head.

2. In an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided with sprinkler heads, means connected with said pipe to supply the same with water under pressure, an air-storage reservoir to supply air to said distribution pipe, a connection between the reservoir and the distribution pipe, a valve in said connection, and a bypass around said valve, of less area than the outlet of a sprinkler head.

3. In an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided with sprinklerheads, means connected with said pipe to supply the same with water umler pressure,

an air storage reservoir to supply air to said distribution pipe, a connection bet ween the reservoir and the distrilmtion pipe, a manually operated valve in said connection, a by-pass around said valve ol, less area than the outlet of a sprinkler hcail,

and a check-valve in said connection to prevent the t'low of water to said reservoir;

4. In an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided at intervals with pendent automatic sprinkler heads, means to supply said pipe with water under pressure, a connection between said means and the distribution pipe, including a checkvalve and a manually operated valve-closer, manually-operated means to drain the distribution pipe, through said connection, means acting normally to maintain the distribution pipe tilled with air at higher pressure than that of the water, and a manu ally-operated charging, valve for said latter means provided with a by-pass having a restricted opening, the cheek-valve being shut by't'he valve-closer when the charging valve is opened to charge the system with air under pressure, the air maintaining the check-valve closed when the valve-closer is rendered inoperative.

in an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided with sprinkler heads, means connected with said pipe to supply the same with water under pressure, means to introduce air at greater pressure than that of the water to said distribution pipe and normally maintain the same tilled with air, a manually operated charging valve and a by-pass around it, interposed between the air introducing means and the distribution pipe, and a shut-oil valve for the by-pass, the area of the latter when open being less than the area of the outlet of a sprinkler head, the charging valve being closed after theisystem has been tilled with air under pressure.

It. in an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided with sprinkler heads, means to supply water under pressure to said pipe, said means including an air-elmmber having separated inlet and outlet ports for the water. to prevent waterhammer. and means to maintain the distribution pipe tilled with air under pressure greater than that of the water until a sprinkler head is opened.

7. in an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided at intervals'with sprinkler heads, means to supply water under pressure to said pipe, said means Illcluding an air-chamber having a water inlet at one side and a water ou let at the other side. a ballle wall interposed between said inlet and outlet, a checlevalve bet ween the air chambc' and the distributii'in pipe, and means to maintain the distribution pipe tilled normallv with air at a pressure greater than that ol the water and the check-valve shut. h

H. in an automatic sprinkler system, a distribution pipe provided at, intervals with automatic sprinkler heads, means to supply water under pressure, a connection between said means and the distribution pipe, means to supply air under pressure greater than that of the water, a manually controlled valve to admit the air under pressure to saidconnection between the distribution pipe and the means to supply water, to charge the system with air, and a restricted by-pass to establish. communication between the means to supply air and the sprinkler system when said valve is shut, to hold the air wages pressure while permitting a quick drop in such pressure when a sprinkler head is opened.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 15 name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALMON M. GRANGER.

Witnesses JOHN C. EDWARDS, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND. 

